When the words "icon" and "Gospel" come together in a sentence, there are only a few people who fit the bill. Tramaine Hawkins is certainly one of those people. Forever part of the history of Gospel music, her vocal performance on songs like Changed, Goin' Up Yonder, and Oh Happy Day not only are classics, but have brought many a Christian through a dark day. Her unmatched soprano chops; amazing fashion sense and commanding stage presence have secured her position as Gospel royalty.
Her first recording project in 6 years, the two-time GRAMMY Award winner is back with I Never Lost My Praise, recorded live at Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland and produced by noted recording artist and producer Kurt Carr, the recording captures the true essence of Tramaine. Singing to an audience packed with the elite of Gospel including Daryl Coley, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence and Walter and Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins proves after 40 years in the industry, she's still got it.
The 11-track collection is a musical mixture of contemporary Gospel, traditional Gospel, and praise and worship music from the legendary artist. Excellent Lord, the first cut on the CD, is a rousing, driving rhythmic number filled with high energy. Perfect for Sunday morning, Tramaine hits hard on this one, bringing visions of her signature backbend to mind. Excellent Lord is one of many songs written by her son Jamie Hawkins, known in mainstream music circles for his work with artists such as Boyz II Men, MC Hammer and Mary J. Blige. Tramaine is ecstatic that Jamie could share his expertise on the new CD.
"I am extremely proud of my son," says the Gospel superstar. "Jamie is so talented. He wrote a song on my first live recording called Cheer Up. He's working with his father [Bishop Walter Hawkins] at his church and writing more Gospel songs now. He came to me and said, 'Mom, there are some songs I want you to hear.' So he and his wife, Sunny Hawkins, a great vocalist in her own right, contributed a number of songs to the project. I thought it was so appropriate for him to be working on my second live recording," states Tramaine.
Easily the most poignant cut on the album, the title tune, I Never Lost My Praise, finds the songstress singing about overcoming obstacles with a praise still on her lips. A relatable song to anyone who's been through a challenge, it displays Tramaine in rare form. As the listener will hear during the song, it's also a testament to God's healing and delivering power. Penned by Kurt Carr and backed by Patrick Lundy & The Ministers Of Music, this is classic Tramaine.
A fan of Carr's music ministry, she says, "Kurt Carr dazzles the Gospel music industry with his writing ability. He puts a wonderful melody in a song and it ministers like a testimony. Last year, I was in consecration praying in my church chapel and I received a call from Kurt. He said the Lord had told him he should be part of this project and that he had a song for me God had just dropped in his spirit called "I Never Lost My Praise", says Hawkins. Once she heard the song, she knew it was "ordained" for the legendary producer and songwriter to make a contribution to the CD.
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